Reports of offensive coordinator Norm Chow leaving UCLA for USC are “not accurate,” according to UCLA Sports Information Director Marc Dellins as of 8:35 p.m. Tuesday.
A flurry of reports circulating on ESPN and the Internet said Chow was leaving UCLA to take the offensive coordinator reins at USC under newly hired coach Lane Kiffin.
Johnathan Franklin said he was playing NCAA Football 10 on Xbox 360 when he received an online update that Chow reportedly was headed to USC. Franklin immediately turned the game off.
“Wow,” Franklin said of his reaction.
The redshirt freshman running back was later reached on the phone for further comment, and said that he was waiting to hear from his coaches if the claims were accurate.
“I’m surprised and definitely shocked,” Franklin said. “Kind of disbelief. If it is true he is going to “˜SC, I wish him the best of luck, and I wish him the best for the future. He’s a great coach.”
Franklin said he had not heard from coach Rick Neuheisel, and that if Chow does leave for USC then there would be a team meeting sometime during the week.
When asked for his thoughts on the possibility of learning a new offense, Franklin said it was a part of the game of football.
“It’s something I’ll have to be able to do.”
In addition, Franklin reacted to Chow’s reported departure in an earlier text message simply saying: “Wow.”
Kevin Prince, who started 11 games last season at quarterback, was also reached on the phone last night and said that he had not yet spoken with Chow.
“As far as I know, he’s still our coach,” the redshirt freshman said. “I’m hoping he’s still our coach.”
Prince said that the possibility of Chow leaving did not cross his mind, partially because he said he did not envision Pete Carroll leaving USC for the Seattle Seahawks.
“He always told us this is where he wanted to be and that he’d be here for years,” Prince said of Chow.
Prince added that should Chow leave, he would be more prepared for learning a new offense than he was coming to UCLA from high school.
“It’s been done before,” Prince said of learning new offenses.
There was no shortage of Bruin players sounding off on their Twitters. UCLA freshman receiver Randall Carroll said on his Twitter, soon after reports gained steam: “norm just left. our talent level is still off the wall doe. It isn’t gonna change any of our game. we still got ballers.”
Senior cornerback Alterraun Verner tweeted: “Coach chow! Are u kidding me? I don’t understand. Wow would not have expected that @ all! At least our defense will know his system already!”
Verner then said in a later tweet: “he’s thinkin bout it. I don’t think its official. Don’t go Coach Chow, don’t!”
Chow was the offensive coordinator at USC from 2001 to 2004 with Kiffin working directly under him as an offensive assistant and wide receivers coach from 2001 to 2004. Reports say USC is offering Chow a raise over his current salary at UCLA.
With reports by Farzad Mashhood, Ryan Eshoff and Blair Angulo, Bruin Sports senior staff.